The Beatles Bible

The Beatles Bible
The Beatles Bible
  • Home
  • History
  • Songs
  • Albums
  • Discography
  • People
  • Features
  • Books
  • Map
  • Gallery
  • Fab forum
  • Store
  • Subscribe:
  • RSS icon RSS
  • Email envelope icon Email
  • Twitter icon Twitter
  • Facebook icon Facebook
iTunes & App Store
You are here: Home » Beatles diary » 1969 » December » 17 » John Lennon and Yoko Ono are interviewed by WABC-AM radio

John Lennon and Yoko Ono are interviewed by WABC-AM radio

6.00pm, Wednesday 17 December 1969 (42 years ago)

During their late-1969 peace campaign in Toronto, Canada, John Lennon and Yoko Ono stayed at the farm owned by fellow musician Ronnie Hawkins, on Mississauga Road, Ontario.

On this evening Lennon gave an interview to New York City's WABC-AM radio. He had invited the Village Voice reporter Howard Smith to Hawkins' home to conduct the interview, which was recorded as Lennon and Ono ate stir fried vegetables and shrimp tempura.

The couple had given a great many interviews in recent weeks, and this touched upon many of the familiar themes: the peace campaign, the future of The Beatles, the Hanratty case, the return of Lennon's MBE and the concept of Bagism.

Other details that emerged during the interview included: the stage for the proposed peace festival in 1970 would be a giant bed; a single person had been employed to preview the 'War is over' slogan on a sandwich board in New York before the campaign began; George Harrison and Ringo Starr had both briefly left The Beatles; the odds of the group ever touring again were 90-1.

Other information included a 10-day rice-only diet in Greece that had ended with a curry and milkshake in Bombay, India. Lennon described it as "like having every drug I've ever touched". He said he and Ono planned to attend the Midem festival in Cannes in January 1970 as representatives of Apple.

Lennon also mentioned that he had a fake fur coat made out of human hair, which resembled "hundreds of Yoko's heads". Asked by Smith what music he was listening to, Lennon mentioned recent releases by Johnny Winer and Lee Dorsey.

The recording of the interview, which lasts for 86 minutes, is in circulation among bootleg collectors.

« Previous post: John Lennon and Yoko Ono give a press conference in Toronto, Canada
Next post: Mixing: Plastic Ono Band live at Lyceum Ballroom, London »
Also on this day...

  • 2010: Paul McCartney live at the 100 Club, London
  • 2009: Paul McCartney live at Köln Arena, Cologne
  • 1969: Mixing: Plastic Ono Band live at Lyceum Ballroom, London
  • 1969: John Lennon and Yoko Ono give a press conference in Toronto, Canada
  • 1963: Radio: Saturday Club
  • 1962: Travel: Liverpool to Hamburg
  • 1961: The Beatles' first photo session
  • 1960: Live: Casbah Coffee Club, Liverpool

Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.

Related articles:

  • John Lennon and Yoko Ono are interviewed for CBC-TV
  • John Lennon and Yoko Ono are interviewed by Associated Press
  • John Lennon and Yoko Ono record a message for Japanese radio
  • John Lennon and Yoko Ono are interviewed for CBC Weekend
  • John Lennon and Yoko Ono fly to Toronto, Canada

Filed under: Radio

Leave a reply

Please note that there may be a delay before comments can be approved for publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and/or content. Comments not in the English language may be discarded, and offensive, irrelevant or spam ones will be ignored. For more information please read the full comments policy.
Click here to cancel reply.


  • Latest posts

    • Paul McCartney live at Zócalo de la Ciudad de México, Mexico City, Mexico
    • Paul McCartney live at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico
    • Paul McCartney live at Estadio Omnilife, Guadalajara, Mexico
    • Paul McCartney live at Estádio da Ressacada, Florianópolis, Brazil
    • Paul McCartney live at Estádio do Arruda, Recife, Brazil
    • Paul McCartney live at Estádio do Arruda, Recife, Brazil
    • Paul McCartney live at Estadio El Campín, Bogotá, Colombia
    • Paul McCartney live at Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay
    • Paul McCartney live at Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay
    • World première of Paul McCartney's My Valentine videos
  • On this day in Beatles history

    • 2011: Paul McCartney live at Estádio Olímpico João Havelange, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    • 1980: John Lennon's to-do list at the Dakota
    • 1969: Ringo Starr flies from New York to the Bahamas
    • 1968: John and Yoko attend press launch of Apple Tailoring
    • 1964: Recording: You Can't Do That
    • 1963: Live: Gaumont Cinema, Ipswich
    • 1962: Live: Star-Club, Hamburg
    • 1961: Live: Top Ten Club, Hamburg

    Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.

  • Twitter updates

  • Things we said today

    • pinio65 on Germany discography
    • pinio65 on Germany discography
    • Cristobal on Picasso's Last Words (Drink To Me)
    • 48569 on Octopus's Garden
    • Elsewhere Man on Jealous Guy
  • From the forum

    • Strongest Beatle per album in The albums
      By unknown
    • Yellow Submarine, Beatles For Sale of Let it Be in The albums
      By meanmistermustard
    • Let It Be in 2013 in Beatles films, television and radio
      By RingoStarr39
    • Avatar problem in Getting better
      By Long John Silver
    • Ranking The Beatles' official studio albums in The albums
      By meanmistermustard
iTunes & App Store
  • Top Ten Club

    • Fab forum
    • The Beatles and drugs
    • The Beatles' songs
    • The Abbey Road cover photography session
    • Days in the life: The Beatles' history
    • The Beatles' rooftop concert (Apple building)
    • Beatles photo gallery
    • Rubber Soul
    • The Beatles' first Ed Sullivan Show
    • John Lennon photos
  • Can buy me love

    The Beatles Bible is run for the love of anything and everything to do with The Beatles. If you've learned something new about the band and wish to show your appreciation, why not make a small donation via PayPal? It'll help with server costs, Beatles books etc...
  • Thinking of linking

    • thebeatles.com
    • johnlennon.com
    • paulmccartney.com
    • twitter.com/paulmccartney
    • georgeharrison.com
    • twitter.com/GeorgeHarrison
    • ringostarr.com
    • applerecords.com
      Beatles Bible logo by Yer Logos/The Beatles In 3D
  • Come together

    This site is in no way associated with or endorsed by The Beatles, Apple Corps Ltd, associated organisations or any members of The Beatles or their representatives. It is intended as a tribute to the greatest group of all time, to try - in a small way - to help introduce their music to new generations of fans.

© 2008-2012 The Beatles Bible. All rights reserved. | Contact us | About this site | Privacy policy

Top of page